William H. Farquhar Middle School, Olney, MD. Photo credit: Patrick Ross
School Health Research Library
We have curated a library of peer-reviewed scientific studies from around the world published since 2016, focusing on the school built environment and occupant health and performance. This research builds on the 2017 Schools for Health: Foundations for Student Success report released by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that synthesizes foundational research about school indoor environmental quality impacts on students and staff.
To help translate this research into action in schools, we have compiled School Health Research Highlights to help school staff and leaders access key findings and actionable strategies on priority topics.
Displaying 441 - 450 of 585 | Export entire research library
A systematic approach to quantify the influence of indoor environmental parameters on students' perceptions, responses, and short-term academic performance
Brink HW
During the pilot study, the IEQ of the classrooms varied slightly. Significant associations (p < 0.05) were observed between these natural variations and students' perceptions of the thermal environment and indoor air quality. These…
Keywords: Performance, Classrooms' indoor environmental quality, Health, Higher education, Student responses, Quality of learning
Multi-route exposure sampling of quaternary ammonium compounds and ethanol surface disinfectants in a K-8 school
Boles, Corey
Both tested products were approximately equally effective at reducing bioburdens on desk surfaces. In some classrooms, concentrations of QAC congeners were significantly increased on desk surfaces following the application of the disinfectant spray…
Keywords: Disinfection, Ethanol, Exposure, Health effects, QACS, School
Indoor Air Pollution and the Health of Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review Focused on Particulate Matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Their Effects on Children and People with Pre-Existing Lung Disease
Maung, Tun Z
There was an association between PM and Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), lung function, oxygen saturation, childhood asthma and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. High VOCs were associated with upper airways…
Keywords: Particulate matter (PM), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Vulnerable groups, Indoor air quality
Toxicity of airborne dust as an indicator of moisture problems in school buildings
Tirkonnen, Jenni
The teachers working in the moisture-damaged schools reported respiratory symptoms such as cough (p = 0.01) and shortness of breath (p = 0.01) more often than teachers from reference schools. Toxicity of the PM sample as such did not differentiate…
Keywords: Indoor air, Moisture damage, Particulate matter (PM), School, Toxicity, In vitro
Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases demonstration project: aerosol pollution and its seasonal peculiarities in primary schools of Vilnius
Prokopciuk, Nina
During all seasons, local cafeterias in the absence of ventilation were the main sources of the elevated levels of indoor PMC and PNC (up to 97,500 particles/cm3). The other sources of airborne particulates were the children’s activity during the…
Keywords: Children, Indoor aerosols, Pollution levels, Primary schools, Systematic and occasional sources, Ventilation
Distribution Levels of Particulate Matter Fractions (<2.5 µm, 2.5–10 µm and >10 µm) at Seven Primary Schools in a European Ceramic Cluster
Pallarés, Susana
The lowest concentrations of fine particulate matter, less than 2.5 µm, were registered at the rural location. The values of these particles found in industrial and urban locations were not substantially different. In the case of particulate matter…
Keywords: Indoor airborne particles, Primary schools, Statistical analysis, Ceramic hub, Mediterranean basin
Understanding teachers' experiences of ventilation in California K-12 classrooms and implications for supporting safe operation of schools in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
Sanguinetti, Angela
Teachers were not educated regarding mechanical ventilation. Errors in HVAC system installation and programming contributed to misunderstandings (because mechanical ventilation was often not performing as it should) and even occasionally made it…
Keywords: Air quality, Classrooms, Occupant perceptions, Thermal comfort, Ventilation
Particulate matter from indoor environments of classroom induced higher cytotoxicity and leakiness in human microvascular endothelial cells in comparison with those collected from corridor
Chua, M. L
While the total mass of PM collected from indoor environment was lower in comparison with those collected from the corridor, the endotoxin content was substantially higher in indoor PM (e.g., ninefold higher endotoxin level in indoor PM8.1-20). The…
Keywords: Cardiovascular, Corridor environment, Cytotoxicity, Endothelium, Indoor environment, Particulate matter (PM)
Effectiveness of a Protocol to Reduce Children's Exposure to Particulate Matter and NO2 in Schools during Alert Days
Zauli-Sajani
The application of the protocol reduced the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio for all toxic pollutants. The reduction was also remarkable for PM10—the most critical air quality parameter in the study area (1.5 and 1.1 for non-alert and alert days,…
Keywords: School, Indoor air quality, Prevention, Particulate matter (PM), Server air pollution episodes
Investigation of the PM2.5, NO2 and O3 I/O ratios for office and school microenvironments
Kalimeri, Krysallia, K.
The PM2.5 I/O ratio varied from 0.20 to 9.29, with mean PM2.5 I/O ratio equal to 1.44 ± 1.01 (mean ± σ value). In schools only 41% of the I/O ratios are equal or below unity, in contrast with the offices present data (97%). PM2.5 I/O ratios above…
Keywords: Fine particles, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), Offices, School